Categories
Mind set

The Secret to Being Happy as a White Water Kayaker!

I was on a long drive coming back from a kayaking trip recently, chatting away with the friend I was sharing the journey with. At some point, I threw out the conversation starter: “What have been the happiest times of your life, and why?”

When I tried to answer it myself, I realised something – right now might genuinely be the happiest I’ve ever been. That thought stayed with me for the rest of the journey. Why this moment? Why this version of my life?

As a outwardly bubbly person, people often ask me what my ‘secret’ is to being happy and the truth is… I have seven of them! They are things that make both my life and my time on the river feel joyful and meaningful. Pillars if you like, that I try to lead my life by and approach my kayaking with.

So here they are – my 7 secrets to being happy as a white water kayaker, and maybe even a happier human too.

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Categories
General Trips

How to Plan a White Water Kayaking Trip to the Alps

Every time I come back from a kayaking trip, I get the same message: “I’d love to go on a trip like that but I wouldn’t know where to start.” After my recent adventures in Valsesia, those messages followed, so I decided to put everything I’ve learned into one clear, friendly guide to planning your first white water kayaking trip to the Alps.

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Categories
Trips

Friendship, gelato and finding my sunshine again: My first time white water kayaking in Valsesia

Valsesia has been on my kayaking destination bucket list for years! After years of watching my friends post photos of steep creeks and delicious gelato, this year I finally made it there myself! A small group of us headed out there at the end of May for a week of white water kayaking in the Valsesia valley and it was wonderful! It was an eventful week with big highs and lows and an unexpected ending. Here is the story of our trip!

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Categories
events

Palm and Pyranha Park Jam goes to Hohenlimburg!

By a happy surprise, I was able to attend the Palm and Pyranha Park Jam event in Hohenlimburg, Germany at the end of May. Having been part of the UK Park Jam events for the last 3 years, I was excited to join for the Germany event. The Park Jam at Hohenlimburg first ran in 2025 and I had heard from the rest of the day that it had been a fantastic day. Not only was this my first Germany Park Jam, but it was also the first of the 2026 Park Jam series.

We had a wonderful time in Hohenlimburg and I felt so happy to get a glimpse of the awesome kayaking community that exists within Germany. It was a really special day and I wanted to write an article to share some of the highlights with you all.

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Categories
ShePaddles

Women belong in white water kayaking: Here is how we help them stay

White water kayaking is an incredible sport, but like many adventure sports, it remains male-dominated. This shapes the experiences of women entering the sport. Over the last decade, I’ve seen how the right environment can help women thrive, and how easily they can be pushed away when those conditions aren’t there.

This article isn’t about criticising men or dividing the paddling community. It’s about understanding the barriers women often face, celebrating what already works, and exploring practical ways we can make kayaking more welcoming, supportive, and sustainable for women at every stage of their journey.

My reflections come from more than ten years of paddling, coaching, and being part of women‑specific events and initiatives. These thoughts are based on my own experiences and observations. Not every woman will relate to every point, and not every man avoids these barriers. But many patterns repeat themselves, and understanding them helps us create a sport where more women feel safe, supported, and excited to stay.

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Categories
events ShePaddles

Smiles at the Plas y Brenin ShePaddles Weekend 2026

The ShePaddles weekend at Plas y Brenin returned in early May. I’ve been lucky enough to attend every event since it began in 2022 as a Pyranha Kayaks ambassador, and each year it feels like it grows as an event. It has now become one of the highlights of my paddling calendar.

The weekend brings paddlers together across disciplines for workshops, coaching, and lots of opportunities to connect over cake. It’s genuinely one of the most joyful events I get to be part of. This year I was also invited to give the Saturday night talk, which made it extra special.

Read on if you would like to hear more about this event!

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Categories
Gear

Pyranha ReactR Review – The Kayak That Just Wants to Boof!

I’ve been paddling the small Pyranha Kayaks ReactR for a little while now, and it’s been so much fun! After years in a medium Scorch (you can read that review here), I was curious how Pyranha’s most recent creek boat would compare. A lot of my reflections come from having kayaked both the ReactR and the Scorch and this article reflects that.

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Categories
Trips

Snow, Sunshine, and Scottish Kayaking: An Easter Adventure

Two years ago, Tom and I got married on the Etive over Easter, and we’ve made it our tradition to have an adventure week every year to celebrate. This time, the Macken family invited us to join PaddlePlus for their club trip to Scotland. We’ve known Dean for years and his daughter Sophie is a Palm Grom so we’ve spent a lot of time together because of this.

Outside of University kayaking, my experiences of paddling with a club is limited. The trip turned out to be a very different kind of adventure to our usual ones. One that involved a much bigger group and therefore more faff, but also one that was full of warmth and laughter. Here’s the story of our week in the Highlands!

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Categories
General

So you want to be a sponsored kayaker? Read this first!

‘How can I become a sponsored kayaker?’ is a question I’m asked often, and one I always hesitate to answer. Not because I don’t want to help, but because the honest answer is rarely the one people hope for.

After years of hearing this question from paddlers of all ages, I’ve spent a long time thinking about what sponsorship really means in our sport. I don’t work for any kayaking brand, and I’m certainly not the person who decides who gets sponsored! What I do have is years of being deeply involved in our community and having the opportunity to make a number of observations.

This blog isn’t a guide to getting free gear. It’s an exploration of why sponsorship exists, what it looks like in a niche sport like ours, and some honest reflections that might help you decide whether it’s something you truly want to pursue.

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Categories
Trips

Returning to the Kaituna – Christmas in New Zealand

New Zealand has and will always have a special place in my heart. When I was 20 years old, I lived there for a year. It was a life changing experience and part of that experience was taking up white water kayaking. My passion for white water stayed with me and has become a key part of who I am today.

Since returning to the UK, I have dreamed of returning to New Zealand and especially to the Kaituna river. This Christmas, my husband and I finally made the trip back. It wasn’t a kayaking-specific holiday, but we still squeezed in plenty of river time alongside other adventures, and reunions with old friends.

This article is here to tell you all about the kayaking side of those adventures!

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